Flag Isle of Man (Manx)

Flag of the Isle of Man (Manx), 3x5' Printed Poly.
The flag of the Isle of Man shows a triskelion, the Three Legs of Man emblem, in the centre of a red flag. The three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee. In order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used.
The Manx flag is based on the coat-of-arms of the last recognized Norse King of the Isle of Man, Magnus III. A modified version of this coat-of-arms is still in use by Magnus' descendants in Norway, the Skanke family.
The triskelion has its roots in an early Celtic sun symbol that was also used by many other ancient civilizations including the Mycenaeans and the Lycians. The flag is similar to that of Sicily.
A red ensign with the triskelion in the fly is used as civil ensign.

The Manx triskelion is one of the oldest continually used government symbols. It is a version of the sun symbol or swastika used by many ancient civilizations. Common in Scandinavian lands, it may well have been introduced to the Isle of Man when the Norse ruled the area prior to 1266. Its use is confirmed from the late 13th century by a medieval document and by the sword of state carried in ceremonies of the Tynwald Court, the Manx parliament. The symbol became the basis for the local flag after the Scottish earl of Moray, Sir Thomas Randolph, was made the ruler of Man in 1313.

Man fell under the rule of England in 1341. The island government flew the Union Jack from the 17th century to July 8, 1929, when the triskelion flag replaced it as a local symbol. There were many artistic variations on the design until the flag was standardized in 1966. A special version, incorporating a Union Jack in the upper hoist, is flown by ships registered in Man.

The Manx flag consists of a red field (background) bearing a central triskelion, or triskele, of three bent legs joined together at a central point.

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